Back in 2023, Ladyville residents protested for their favored bus line - Serrano's. This was after the bus line's permit was pulled by the Transport Board. Less than a week later, those same protestors were in Belmopan at the National Assembly fighting to get Serrano's back on the road.
Well now, they've been vindicated.
In a judgement issued last Thursday, the High Court has overturned the Transport Board decision's that denied the renewal of a road service permit to Serrano's, ruling that the company's constitutional rights were breached.
Justice Javed Mansoor found that the board's refusal to renew Hernan Serrano's permit, without proper notice or a fair hearing, violated principles of natural justice and procedural fairness. The decision, which was made during an emergency meeting on May 11, 2023, followed allegations of traffic infractions.
However, the board is now required to properly consider Serrano's application, and they cannot grant the route to another operator until then. During this time, Central Transit has been working the route. Back in June, one of their buses was seen smoking with passengers inside. And then in August, the same bus caught on fire.
Additionally, Mansoor also ruled that Serrano had been denied equal protection of the law and awarded him $60,000 in damages, plus costs.
Serranos' was represented by William A. Lindo and Alister Jenkins and Christy Lopez defended the Transport Board.
